Rapid City-Houston Flights Uncertain In 2013

RAPID CITY, SD

United Airlines is to decide by the end of the year whether to continue seasonal flights between Rapid City and Houston next year.

The daily flights began in June and ended in August. Rapid City Airport Executive Director Cameron Humphres says United is encouraged by the number of people who took advantage of the flight but dismayed that too many of them used it as a connecting flight. He says that's a problem because United can connect travelers more cheaply by flying them to Denver or Chicago.

About 6,800 people flew between Rapid City and Houston over the summer, about 75 percent of capacity.